Nuclear power is back in favour, at least in government circles. Today,energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband will expand upon the UK’s plans for a fleet of new nuclear reactors. Elsewhere, Sweden hasreversed its decades-old ban on nuclear power and an increasing number of countries are expanding their nuclear generating capacity.

Four new reactors are under way in Europe at the moment: two Russian-designed reactors in Slovakia, plus Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 and France’s Flamanville 3, which both rely on the French state-owned Areva’s involvement and expertise. The Finnish site has been beset by delays, rising costs and criticisms over safety and still has no definite opening date, while the cost of Flamanville 3 has risen from €3.3bn to €4bn.